by Tammy Curtis
What better way to welcome warmer weather than barbecue? For the third year, organizers of the Sidney St. Patrick’s Day Parade will share their event with the season’s first barbecue competition during the town’s festivities on Saturday, March 19.
Local barbecue connoisseur Carl Bailey, one of the judges of the world famous Memphis BBQ Network competition, helped get the cook-off going, after being contacted by Sidney native Justin Davis. Bailey recalls how the renowned Memphis competition began with a bunch of backyard barbecue guys and has grown over the years to be part of the mid-south competition circuit. Bailey and Davis expect to see the Sidney event grow, after starting with 11 teams in 2014. This year, they hope to see double the number of competitors. Party Q from Memphis set up last year, as did a local team Slaughterhouse BBQ, and organizers hope to continue to see a range of chefs, pros to backyard cooks. After the competitors finish their variety of mouth watering meats and are judged, samples will be offered to the parade crowd.
The contest entry form is available online at www.sidneywaterworks.com/bbq.htm. Cash prizes will be awarded for first through third place in each category based on the number of entries. Bailey explained the competition is based on a points system with ribs and butt entries getting the highest point value. He added back yard cookers should not be intimidated by the professional teams, as amateurs beat the pros in some of the categories last year.
Starting this year, the Grand Champion Trophy will be named in honor of Don Taylor, who recently passed away. The owner of Taylor Feed Mill in Franklin was a well known community volunteer who began cooking competitively in 2014 and won a first, second and third place trophy and cash prizes, despite his late start.
His name will live on through the Sidney trophy.
Sidney cook-off participants will check in on Friday, March 18 at the Sidney Ball Park, just off Highway 58, and begin cooking either Friday night or Saturday morning, depending on the length of time required for the meat to cook. Complete rules and judging times are available at www.sidneywaterworks.com/rules.htm. The team is working on a website with downloadable rules, regulations and entry forms. The link will be posted for everyone to share. So invite your friends and come out and enjoy the day in beautiful Sidney.
Business, clubs and organizations interested in joining in the fun can put together teams, set up and compete or set up booths at the event. The group is also looking for corporate sponsorships to help with prizes and awards. Businesses contributing will be listed on the team’s shirts which will be available for sale as well as banners at the barbecue cook-off. For more information on these great opportunities, drop an email to: sidneyarbbq@gmail.com or contact Carl Bailey at 870-283-2272, or Tammy Curtis at 870-283-2132.